Ice block forming and dispensing device



Oct. 21, 1941. R. A. AYNE 2,260,159 ICE BLOCK FORMING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Filed June 29, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l s 8 ii f Q I INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY 5 Oct. 21, 1941. I R. A. BAYNE ICE BLOCK FORMING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Filed June 29, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. '9 E y Fifimwi Oct. 21, 1941.

R. A. BAYNE 2,260,159

ICE BLOCK FORMING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Filed June 29, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEXS Patented Oct. 21, 1941 UNITED STATES rarer OFFICE ICE BLOCK FORMING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Richard A. Bayne, Detroit, Mich.

Application June 29', 1939, Serial No. 281,928

11 Claims.

but preparatory to refilling the device with water for forming additional ice blocks the divider plates must be manually returned 'to their respective ice block forming positions.

This invention contemplates an improvement upon the above-mentioned device in that the ice blocks are not only automatically dispensed one by one but the divider plates are also automatically returned to their original or iceblock forming positions.

It is also an object of this invention to produce such an ice block forming and dispensing device which is of simple structure, cheap to manufacture, and easily and efficiently operated.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a plan view partly in section showingthe device with one ice block channel loaded ready for dispensing and the other with the plates in their respective positions after all the iceblocks have been discharged.

Fig. 2 is a section along the line 2-2" of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the device showing the operating handle in its three operating channels 2 and 3 by and fixed to the plates 8 which are fixed to the forward ends of the side walls 4 and 5 of the tray.

To form ice blocks each of the channels 2 and 3 are divided into ice block forming spaces by the, divider plates 5, II], II, I2, I3; I4, I5 and I6. The divider plates, as shown particularly in Figs. '7 and 8, are mounted upon a square tube I1 which passes through openings I8 provided therefor in each of the divider plates. The divider plates are provided with spring clutch fingers I9 which project outwardly and forwardly from the forward face of the plates and yieldably engage the opposite side walls of the tube IT. For the purposes of this description the ice block dispensing or outlet end of the tray is considered the forward end ofthe tray.

It will be noted that due to the inclination of these clutch fingers I9 with respect to the tube I'I that the tube I! will move freely forwardly or to the left, as viewed in Figs. 1 and:

7, of the divider plates but upon reverse movement the fingers I9 will tend to clutch the tube I! with greater force and friction than when the tube is moved forwardly. Thus whenever the tube I 1 is moved rearwardly the'divider plates will be carried with it unless-sufiicient re-. sistance is o'fiered which will cause the tube I 'I to slide with respect to the fingers I9 in spite of their slip clutch action. provided in the form of a plurality of stops 29, 30; SI, 32, 33, 34, and 36.

It will be seen that there is provided a pair of stops for each of the divider plates. The dispositions, I 35 tance between each pair of stops decreases from Fig. 4 is a section along the line 4'-4 of the forward to the rear end of the tray, that is, Fig. 2. stops 29 are slightly farther apart than stops Fig. 8 is a detail showing the arrangement for selectively positioning each of the divider plates in its proper ice block forming position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings there is shown a sheet metal tray generally designated I provided with channels 2 and 3 in which the ice blocks are formed, side walls 4 and 5 andend wall 6. channels 2 and 3 are open. A support plate 'I is positioned forwardly of'the; open end' of 'the The forward ends of the 30, stops 30 farther apart than stops3l.

gether than the pair of stops immediately forward thereof. The stops 29 through 36 conveniently take the form of side plates 31 and middle plate 38 which are cut to shape and fixed to the top of the tray above and lengthwis of the channels 2 and 3. Each of the divider plates is arranged so that the width of its upper end is greater than the distance between its respective pair of stops and less than the distance between the stops forwardly thereof. Thus the distance between the vertical edges 40 of the plate I5 is greater than the distance between its respective stops 35 and less than the distance between the stops 34. Thus the width of the upper portion of each plate, that is, the dis.-

This' resistance is In other words, each pair of stops is closer to-:

tance between its vertical edges, is less than the width of the plate forwardly thereof.

Although the divider plates slide relative to the tube l1 they cannot turn thereon due to the An ejector is fixed to the end of the tube [1 and a closure plate 46 with a rubber sealing gasket 41 for the front or open end of the channels 2 and 3 is slidably mounted on the tube I1 and normally retained in closed position by the stop lugs 48 which back up and position the 010- sure plate 46.

The tube I1 is slidably mounted on the fixed rod 43 one end of which is fixed as at 44 in'the rear end wall 6 of the tray and the forward end of which is supported on the plate 7. The forward end. of the fixed rod 43 is reduced as at 49 and has slidably mounted thereon the thrust screw 50. The thrust screw 50 is brazed or otherwise suitablyfixed to the tube 11 as at 5|. nut 52 is screwed upon the screw 50. A handle 53 is swivelled to the nut 52. The nut 52 is provided with opposed fingers 54 which form a rotary-bolt. I

A keeper 55 adapted for interengagement with the rotary bolt 54 is secured to the support 1.

As shown in the full lines, right hand side of Fig.3, the handle 53 is in vertical position and the bolt 54 is interengaged with the keeper 55. If the handle 53 is turned. counter-clockwise ninety degrees to the dotted lineposition, the rotary bolt is turned from the horizontal to thevertical and disengaged from the keeper 5.. This permits the tube I! to be pulled outwardly or to the left,

Fig. 1. v

The operationof the device is as follows: In the lower half of Fig. 1 the device is shown in ice block forming'position with the divider plates l0 spaced, the closure 46 closed and the handle 53 inivertical position with the rotary bolt 54 horizontal' and'interengaged with keeper 55. After thefiice is formed and while the tray 1 is still in the sharp freezing compartment of the refrigerator, the handle 53 is turned counterclockwise,

Fig. '3,: approximately forty-five degrees. .Since,

theJsquaretubeJT cannot be turned and the screw50. isfixed to the tube I1, therefore the screw 50 cannot turn.. Since thevnut 52 and 'bolt 54 are [still interengaged withthe keeper 55 and cannot move outwardly or toward the left, Fig. 1,

thuslas the nut 52 turns forty-five degrees .on

the screwi50, the screw 50 and the tube I! move forwardly or toward. the left a short distance, about one-sixteenth of an inch. The turning of nut 52 on screw 50, due tothe mechanical advantage thereof, exerts aconsiderable forward .or leftward pull,-Fig. 1, onthe tube .||:which;de taches the ejector plate 45 from the end wall 6 to which it might be frozen, breaks loose the ice blocks from the: side and bottom walls of their respective channels 2 and 3, and slightly opens theclosure 46. The handle 53 is now turned another forty-five degrees to the horizontal position shown in dotted lines Fig. 3, which disengages the rotary bolt 54 from its keeper. The handle 53 maynow be pulled forward or to the left carryingwith itthe entire column of ice The distance between the rubbergasket on the closure '45 from the outer edge 5| of channel 3 (when the closure 46 abuts the guide 60, Fig. 5) is less than the length of two ice blocks 62 plus the thickness of one divider plate between them. Thus only one ice block 62 will be entirely forwardly of and free from the discharge end 6| of the channel 3. The second ice block 62a is retained by the forward edge 6| of the channel.

The ice blocks are disconnected from the divider plates by the inclined surface 63 as explained in my copending application Serial No. 276,530, filed May 31, 1939. The first ice block 62 will be released as soon as the operatorceases to pull on the handle 53. If the handle is again pulled forwardly or to the left, divider plate 9 is drawn against the closure plate 46 and the second ice block 6211 is discharged upon easing the pull on the handle 53. This method of operation is repeated until all of the ice blocks are discharged and the divider plates will be stacked in the position shown in the upper half of Fig. 1. The forward oriejecting movement of handlev 53 is arrested, when the last ice block is discharged, by the ejector plate 45 abutting the stops 65 at the forward or outlet end of the channels.

To reload thev tray, the handle 53 is pushed rearwardly or to the right, Fig. 1. The clutching engagement between. the fingers l9 and the square. tube ll causes the plates to moverearwa'rdlyior to the right. As the tube I! moves to theright the stops 29 through '36 inclusive select orjarrest. their corresponding divider plates ,9 through l6 and, position them in their properly spaced relation. .As soon as the ejector plate l5 abuts the end wall; 6 the handle 53 is turned fromtheyertical position, Fig. 3, full line to the horizontal position,; dotted line showing Fig. 3. Du1:ing;the, last forty-five degrees of clockwise turning of the handle 53 the threaded engagement'of nut, 52 andscrew50 causes the plate 4 6 and gasket 41 to be drawn tightly against the outlet end of the channel 3. Obviously since the ice forming and dispensing mechanism is identie cal for; both ofthe channels Z and 3, the operation Of these mechanisms is identicaland the description of the one applies equally well to the r- In reloading as the tube I? is moved rearwardly or to the right stops 48 abutclosure 46 and force it into closing relation with the discharge endofth'etray.

I claim: r a q 1. A device for forming and dispensing ice blocks comprising a container having an outlet and adapted to; receive. a liquid to be frozen. a plurality of divider plates cooperating with the walls .of the container toform' ice cube compartments, ejecting means slidable forwardly and backwardly, said ejecting means on its forward movement being adapted to loosen theice blocks and move theice blocks and said divider plates through said outlet to dispense the ice blocks, and. mechanism cooperating with said slidable ejectinggmeans on its backward movement for returning the divider plates to and spacingthe divider plates in their original ice block forming positions within the container. i

.2.' -A device for forming and dispensing blocks I comprising a:container having an. outlet and adapted to receivefa liquid itobeJfrQZe'n, a plurality of. divider plates cooperating with the walls of the container toform ice cube com partments, ejecting .meansu slidable forwardly and backwardly,.,saidejecting means on its forward; movement. being adapted 'to' loosen the, ice

bldckszahdmove; the; ice blocks and said dividerl plates through said outlet to dispense the ice blocks, means for juxtapositioning said plates after they have been ejected through said outlet, and mechanism cooperating with said slidable ejecting means on its backward movement for returning the divider plates to and spacing the divider plates in their original ice block forming positions within the container.

3-. A device for forming and dispensing ice blocks comprising a container having an outlet and'adapt'ed to receive a liquid to be frozen, a plurality ofdivider plates cooperating with the walls of the container to form ice cube compartments, ejecting means movable forwardly and backwardly, said ejecting means onits forward movementbeing adapted to loosen the ice blocks and-move the ice blocks andsaid divider plates through said outlet todispense the ice blocks, a breakable driving connection between each of said plates and the said ejecting means, and stopmeans for selectively engaging said divider plates on the backward movement of said ejecting means to break the driving connection between the ejecting means and the divider plates and space the divider plates in their original ice block forming positions within the container.

4. A device for forming and dispensing ice blocks comprising a container having an outlet and adapted'to receive a liquid to be frozen, a plurality of divider plates cooperating with the Walls of the container to form ice cube compartments, ejecting means movable forwardly and backwardly, said ejecting means on its forward movement being adapted to loosen the ice blocks andmove the ice blocks and said divider plates through said outlet to dispense the ice blocks, means for juxtapositioning said plates after they have been ejected through said outlet, a breakable driving connection between each of said plates and the said ejecting means, and stop means for selectively engaging said divider plates on the backward movement of said ejecting means to break the driving connection between the ejecting means and the divider plates and space the divider plates in their original ice block forming positions within the container.

5. A device for forming and dispensing ice blocks comprising a container having an outlet and adapted to receive a liquid to be frozen, a plurality of divider plates cooperating with the walls of the container to form ice cube compartments, ejecting means movable forwardly and backwardly, said ejecting means on its forward movement being adapted to loosen the ice blocks and move the ice blocks and said divider plates through said outlet to dispense the ice blocks, a breakable driving connection between each of the said divider plates and the ejecting means, a plurality of stops spaced fore and aft along the said container, one stop for each of said divider plates each of which is offset from the next adjacent stop for selectively engaging the divider plates on the backward movement of the ejecting means whereby the driving connection between the plates and the ejecting means is broken and the divider plates spaced in their original ice block forming positions within the container.

6. A device for forming and dispensing ice blocks comprising a container having an outlet and adapted to receive a liquid to be frozen, a plurality of divider plates positioned one behind the other in longitudinally spaced relation along the container and cooperating with the Walls of the container to form ice cube compartments, a

pair of edges on each of said'divi'der plates, the said pair of edges oneach. divider plate from the front divider plate tothe divider plate next to the rearmost divider plate beingpositioned farther apart than the corresponding edges on the adjacent divider plate, in the rear thereof, ejectingmeans longitudinally movable forwardly and backwardly of said container,saidiejecting means on its forward'movement being adapted to loosen the ice blocks and move the ice blocks and said divider plates through said outlet to dispense the ice blocks, aplurality of. pair of stops positioned in. longitudinally spaced relation along the said container, 'theirstops of each pair being spaced farther apart than the stops of the adjacent pair in :the rear thereof; and means cooperating with said. ejecting means on its backward movement for returning. the divider plates into the container whereby each pair of edges oneach divider plate cooperates with its corresponding pair of. stops on the container to position. each of the divider plates in their original ice'block forming positions within the container:

7;. A device for forming and" dispensing, ice blocks ccmprising a container having an outlet andadapted to receive a liquid to be frozen, a plurality of divider plates cooperating with the walls of the container to form ice cube compartments, an ejector plate positioned in the container in the rear of said divider plates, a push and pull shaft connected to said ejector plate and extending lengthwise of the container whereby When the said shaft is pulled forwardlythe ejector plate loosens the ice blocks and moves the ice blocks and said divider plates through said outlet to dispense the ice blocks, a breakable connection between each of the divider plates and said push and pull shaft, a plurality of stops positioned lengthwise of the said container in spaced relation, an edge on each of said divider plates for cooperating with its respective stop on the said container whereby on the push or backward movement of the said shaft the cooperating edges on the divider plates and the stops on the container selectively position the divider plates in their original ice block forming positions within the container and the breakable connection permits the said shaft to move relatively to the divider plates while held by their respective stops.

8. A device for forming and dispensing ice blocks comprising a container having an outlet and adapted to receive a liquid to be frozen, a plurality of divider plates cooperating with the walls of the container to form ice cube compartments, an ejector plate positioned in the container in the rear of said divider plates, a push and pull shaft connected to said ejector plate and extending lengthwise of the container whereby when the push and pull shaft is pulled forwardly the ejector plate loos-ens the ice blocks and moves the ice blocks and said divider plates through said outlet to dispense the ice blocks, a breakable connection between each of the divider plates and said push and pull shaft, a closure for the outlet end of the said container also having a breakable connection with the said push and pull shaft, a plurality of stops positioned lengthwise of the said container in spaced relation, a stop on each of said divider plates for cooperating with its respective stop on the said container whereby on the push or backward movement of the push and pull shaft the cooperating stops on the divider plates and container selectively position the divider the walls of the container to form ice cube come partments, an ejector plate. positioned in the container in the rear of ,said divider, plates,.a fixed guide rod extending longitudinally of said container, a push and pull shaft slidably mounted on said guide rod and connected to said. ejector plate, whereby when the said shaft is pulled forwardly the ejector, plate loosens the ice blocks. and moves the iceblocks .and said divider plates through said outlet to dispense the ice blocks, a breakable connection between each of the divider plates and said push and pull shaft, a plurality of stops positioned length wise of the said container in spaced relation,-and edge on each .ofsaid divider plates for, cooper-. ating with its respective stop on the said con-. tainer, whereby on the push or backward,move. ment of the said shaft the cooperating edges on the divider plates and the stops on the container selectively position the divider plates in their original ice block forming positions within the containerand the breakable connection permits the said shaft to .mov.e relatively to the divider plates while held by, their respective stops.

.10. AMdevice. for forming and dispensing ice blocks comprising ;a.-containerfhaving an out-. let and adapted to receive. a liquid to be frozen,

one or more divider plates cooperating with the wallsof the container to form ice cube compartm ents,an ejector plate positioned at the rear of said divider plates, a shaft, connected to the ejec-v tor plate and extending lengthwise of the said container, a handle, cooperating screw means on said handle and said shaft adapted forirota tion to pull the shaft and ejector plateforwardly to loosen the ice blocksand ejector platefrom the said container whereby the shaft and, ejector plate can be pulled forwardly to move the ice blocks and; said, one or more divider plates through the outletv to dispense the ice blocks.

11. A device for forming and. dispensing ice blocks comprising a container having anoutlet and adapted ,to receive a liquid to be frozen, one or more divider plates cooperating with the walls of the container, to form ice cube compartments, an ejector plate positioned at the rear of said divider plates, a shaft connected to the ejector plate and extending lengthwise of the said container, a handle, a cooperating nut and screw one of which, is fixed to thehandle and, the other of which is fixed to theshaft, a rotary bolt connected to said handle, cooperating keeper means on the said container whereby when the handle is rotatedto disengagethe bolt from the keeper the cooperating nut and screw move the shaft and ejector plate forwardly to loosen the ice blocks and ejector plate from the container and the handle thereafterfcan be pulled for-, wardly to move the ice blocks and said one or more gdivider plates through the outlet to dis;. pense'the ice blocks. I p I v V p RICHARD A. BAYNE. 

